Percutaneous transhepatic biliary stone removal in patients with prior bile duct stents: Report of 2 cases.

Gallstones with bile duct stones in patients with prior stent placement challenge traditional endoscopic or surgical management, particularly in high-risk individuals. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary stone removal (PTBD) offers a minimally invasive alternative, but its role in this population is underexplored. This case series assesses PTBD's efficacy and feasibility.

Exploring the Feasibility of Bidirectional Spinal Cord Machine Interface Through Sensing and Stimulation of Axonal Bundles.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) patients experience long-term deficits in motor and sensory functions. While brain-machine interface (BMI) has shown great promise for restoring neurological functions after SCI, spinal cord-machine interface (SCMI) offers unique advantages, such as more defined somatotopy and the compact organization of neural elements in the spinal cord. In the current study, we aim to demonstrate the feasibility of sensing and evoking compound action potentials (CAPs) via electrode implantation in spinal cord axonal bundles, an essential prerequisite for advancing SCMI development.

Prospective validation study: a non-invasive circulating tumor DNA-based assay for simultaneous early detection of multiple cancers in asymptomatic adults.

Background: Non-invasive multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests have shown promise in enhancing early cancer detection. However, their clinical utility across diverse populations remains underexplored, limiting their routine implementation. This study aims to validate the clinical utility of a multimodal non-invasive circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based MCED test, SPOT-MAS (Screening for the Presence Of Tumor by DNA Methylation And Size).

DIKOApp: An AI-Based Diagnostic System for Knee Osteoarthritis.

The diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis is challenging due to its complex nature and various contributing factors. With the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, some computer vision-based methods have been developed to address this task. However, when applied in practice, these methods encounter numerous challenges.

Combination of Hotspot Mutations With Methylation and Fragmentomic Profiles to Enhance Multi-Cancer Early Detection.

Background: Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) through a single blood test significantly advances cancer diagnosis. However, most MCED tests rely on a single type of biomarkers, leading to limited sensitivity, particularly for early-stage cancers. We previously developed SPOT-MAS, a multimodal ctDNA-based assay analyzing methylation and fragmentomic profiles to detect five common cancers.

Evaluation of a multimodal ctDNA-based assay for detection of aggressive cancers lacking standard screening tests.

Cancers lacking standard screening (LSS) options account for approximately 70% of cancer-related deaths due to late-stage diagnosis. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising biomarker for multi-cancer early detection. We previously developed SPOT-MAS, a multimodal ctDNA-based assay analyzing methylation and fragmentomic profiles, effective in detecting common cancers (breast, colorectal, liver, lung and gastric).

Isolated sigmoid colon disruption after blunt abdominal trauma: Case report.

Isolated colon injuries following blunt abdominal trauma have been reported at a rate of 0.1%-0.5%, with isolated sigmoid colon injuries involved in only 34.

Predicting the severity of COVID-19 patients using the CD24-CSF1R index in whole blood samples.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has become one of the most serious public health crises worldwide. Most infected people are asymptomatic but are still able to spread the virus. People with mild or moderate illnesses are likely to recover without hospitalization, while critically ill patients face a higher risk of organ injury or even death.

An approach based on gamma backscattering technique to measuring the density of liquid using the low-intensity radioactive source.

This work aims to develop a practical solution to measure the density of a liquid. Two purposes of this study: (1) using a low-activity source to measure the density of a liquid, and (2) simplifying the experimental arrangement to reduce the size and weight of the measuring system. The proposed solution is to develop a measurement technique without both detector and source collimators, while it considers an appropriate technique for analyzing the backscattering spectrum.

Moisturizing effectiveness of immediate compared with delayed moisturization.

Introduction: Moisturizers play an essential role in maintaining the integrity of the skin barrier by increasing stratum corneum hydration (SCH) and reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). According to dermatology and allergy guidelines, moisturizers should be applied on the skin within 3 min after bathing or showering. However, there is very little evidence supporting this recommendation.

Revisiting the Key Optical and Electrical Characteristics in Reporting the Photocatalysis of Semiconductors.

Photocatalysis has been studied and considered as a green and practical approach in addressing environmental pollution. However, factors that affect photocatalytic performance have not been systematically studied. In this work, we have presented a comprehensive roadmap for characterizing, interpreting, and reporting semiconductors' electrical and optical properties through routinely used techniques such as diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, electrochemical techniques (Mott-Schottky plots), photoluminescence, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy in the context of photocatalysis.

A study on the sensitivity of the measurement of liquid density at different scattering angles using a gamma scattering technique.

This study aims to evaluate the sensitivity of the measurement of liquid density at different scattering angles using a gamma scattering technique. To perform this, the linear calibration curves of the ratio R (R is the ratio of the area under a single scattering peak for a liquid relative to that for water) versus the liquid density were constructed at different scattering angles. The sensitivity of the measurement is defined as the slope coefficient of these linear calibration curves.

Highlighting Protective Effect of Encapsulation on Yeast Cell Response to Dehydration Using Synchrotron Infrared Microspectroscopy at the Single-Cell Level.

In the present paper, the Layer by Layer (LbL) method using β-lactoglobulin and sodium alginate was performed to individually encapsulate cells in microorganized shells in order to protect them against stresses during dehydration. Higher survival (∼1 log) for encapsulated yeast cells was effectively observed after air dehydration at 45°C. For the first time, the potentiality of Synchrotron-Fourier Transform InfraRed microspectroscopy (S-FTIR) was used at the single-cell level in order to analyze the contribution of the biochemical composition of non-encapsulated vs.

Biophysical Stress Responses of the Yeast During Dehydration Using Synchrotron-FTIR Microspectroscopy.

During industrial yeast production, cells are often subjected to deleterious hydric variations during dehydration, which reduces their viability and cellular activity. This study is focused on the yeast , particularly sensitive to dehydration. The aim was to understand the modifications of single-cells biophysical profiles during different dehydration conditions.

Antibiotics in Wastewater of a Rural and an Urban Hospital before and after Wastewater Treatment, and the Relationship with Antibiotic Use-A One Year Study from Vietnam.

Hospital effluents represent an important source for the release of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant bacteria into the environment. This study aims to determine concentrations of various antibiotics in wastewater before and after wastewater treatment in a rural hospital (60 km from the center of Hanoi) and in an urban hospital (in the center of Hanoi) in Vietnam, and it aims to explore the relationship between antibiotic concentrations in wastewater before wastewater treatment and quantities of antibiotics used in the rural hospital, over a period of one year in 2013. Water samples were collected using continuous sampling for 24 h in the last week of every month.

Partition of volatile compounds in pea globulin-maltodextrin aqueous two-phase system.

This study is based on the assumption that the off-flavour of pea proteins might be decreased using the retention of volatile compounds by a mixture with another biopolymer. The partition of volatile compounds in an aqueous system containing pea protein and maltodextrins was followed under thermodynamic incompatibility conditions. Firstly, the phase diagram of the system was established.